Trump instructed to review military assistance to Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a review of military assistance to Ukraine, which in fiscal 2019 in accordance with the US military budget is $ 250 million.

Trump wants to make sure that the funds are used in the best way in terms of the interests of the United States of America. Auditors include US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Assistant President of the United States National Security John Bolton.

At the time of the review, the funds will be frozen. The Appropriations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives said they are aware of Trump’s decision. “We have serious concerns about the freezing of these important funds, and we urgently send a request to the administration about why it is delaying the allocation of these resources,” the statement said. Additional information was also requested by the Armed Forces Committee.

Note that earlier the US administration froze part of the funds allocated by the US Congress to help foreign countries. The funds will not be used until the US Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) audit them.

They should study how much money is in the accounts and how they are spent. But the funds must be spent before September 30, when the US fiscal year ends, otherwise the permit for their use will expire.

The amount of funds in question can range from 2 to 4 billion dollars. The funds should be spent on financing international organizations, international peacekeeping missions, the fight against drugs, health care, development assistance, as well as assistance to the armed forces of foreign states and assistance to states in Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia.

Since 2014, the United States has allocated more than $ 1.1 billion for military training and equipment to help Ukraine’s defense capabilities and protect its borders.